All the finalists of the News-Journal's Holiday Recipe Contest were invited to a cook-off last month at Daytona State College, where the teaching chefs who judged the contest chose the No. 1 dish in each of six categories as well as overall first- and second-place winners.

DENISE O'TOOLE KELLYFOOD EDITOR

A contest veteran who represented Florida in a national cook-off a few years back. A salad lover and herb gardener who had never entered a recipe competition before. A team of high-school culinary students with a clever plan to repurpose their trendy cake pop maker and make a bite-sized appetizer. An at-home baker old enough to be their great-grandmother who had submitted her poundcake entry on notebook paper in perfect cursive penmanship. These residents of The News-Journal's circulation area were among the 12 who advanced to the last round of judging in the newspaper's third annual Holiday Recipe Contest. All the finalists were invited to a cook-off last month at Daytona State College, where the teaching chefs who judged the contest chose the No. 1 dish in each of six categories as well as overall first- and second-place winners. Charlene Chambers of Ormond Beach — who began an illustrious string of cook-off qualifying with the 46th annual National Chicken Cook-off in Charlotte, N.C., in 2005 — was awarded "Best of Show" for her main dish, Bourbon Glazed Salmon In Puff Pastry. "I just love the bourbon marinade and the ginger. I think it's a really great combination. And the puff pastry just makes it elegant," she said in a follow-up interview. Second place — dubbed "Judge's Choice" by contest organizers — was captured by culinary-competition newbie Dorothy Hampson, who made a side dish she calls Marvelous Marinated Vegetable Salad with herbs from her Ormond Beach garden. "I just thought that the rosemary sounded rather interesting, and went from there," she explained.

Runner-up in the main dish category was Donna Dirscherl, who made Chicken Crepes. In the side dish category, runner-up was Ann Osowski of Orange City with Green Bean and Walnut Salad. Michelle Cecchini of Ormond Beach prepared Mini Greek Turkey Sliders to win the appetizer category. Potato Puffs — made by the Deltona High School team of Shelanis Cortes, Mike DeRosa and James Capps — was the runner-up appetizer dish. Charles Mallory of Daytona Beach prepared the winning dessert: Pumpkin Bread Pudding With Caramel Sauce and Whipped Cream. Dot Brown of DeLand's Poundcake was runner-up dessert. Matt Manno won for cookies with Aunt Mary's Czechoslovakian Nut Horns, while Edgewater resident Dee Anderson's Rum Balls were runner up in that category. Nancy Faubert of New Smyrna Beach prepared the winning beverage: Frozen Slushy Banana Punch. Ormond Beach resident Larry Babitts' Mint Chocolate Martinis were runner up in the beverage category.